Wrapping up lots of loose ends around here today......enough to keep me busy all day...exercycle didn't arrive like it was supposed to...don't know what is up with that.....but it sure won't arrive on Sunday....staying away from the grocery store for one more day....tomorrow.,,,,I will have no choice though...will be totally out of some necessities...but I'm happy to keep putting it off in the future until I'm desperate....good thing for me to learn....if I can't deal with grocery shopping without buying the stuff that tempts me then...just don't shop...LOL.

Breakfast

coffee

apple walnut cream of wheat

A.M. Snack

4 small pieces candy

Lunch

chicken and veggies on noodles, 4 fries, sweet potatoes...working on using up leftovers

Dinner

cheese, blueberry protein muffin, peanits

Progress as of today: 38.8 lbs lost so far, only 71.6 lbs to go!

graindart on 03/18/2018:
That's about the only way that I can seem to do good on the food intake side of things lately...... I just have to keep it out of the house. The family has done a good job of keeping most of the normal temptations out of the house for me (candy, cookies, ice cream, etc). Unfortunately I'm now tempted by pretty much any type of carb. So now I've been getting derailed by bread / jam / peanut butter / cereal. Going to change up some of the wife and daughters food options to get rid of some of the temptations (no bread / jam / peanut butter / granola bars / cereal). They're not overjoyed about making a change, but I think they'll survive.

Finishing up taxes today and several phone calls...the day is flying by.

Frustrating day...email was hacked and now has been locked for the next month and the camera card reader I ordered arrived wrong.....you would think they would have been able to read the number on it..and send the right one....UGH....frustrating but not lettingit get me down...I will have to go to the post office anyway on Monday or tuesday...might as well take one more pkg.

Another at home day....taxes are well along but not finished so I'm taking another day to finish those up......still not shopping...we can get by another day.

Out of curiosity I took my glucose test as I was getting into bed last night and it was 91 and perfect...I hadn't eaten since dinner....( I was tempted but refused to fall prey to that)...and the numbers were great....protein/fat/carbs combos have changed my life...I haven't had to eat sugar to bring my numbers up in several days now. In fact I havent tested yet today...so maybe I will go do that right now...so far I've only had coffee since yesterday afternoon........sooo...even after fasting for so many hours it was 96, again perfect!!!!! So my days of managing it by downing sugar during dips is over.....protein/carb/fat 3 times a day is the answer ( and then adding other things after the fact to round out the meals). I'm happy and relieved.

EDIT

Busy morning so far...phone ringing repeatedly and kitchen sinks backed up...no overflowing yet...and the dishwasher is still running ( don't want to stop that mid cycle...always an issue when I do that)...so at least I got my bath done and got dressed...otherwise.....no taxes yet...UGH!

Having some at home alone time today....D is taking all of the hounds out for a ride around the federal forrest...they LOVE TO SMELL THE AIR!!!! LOL

So it's a little after 7 A.M. and I have the dishwasher going, the washing machine going, I'm going to go make the bed and then get busy on our Income taxes....had a little problem with the printer the other day but that is resolved and I can use that again. Ordered some walking shoes yesterday and 4 new clothing items...they will fit better now...since we order almost everything online except perishables.....we have been getting a lot of deliveries ...and now with yesterday...there will be a few more...but I think we are good for now...so....I'm avoiding the grocery store as long as I possibley can...I think we can get by for a few more days until the milk and eggs run out...and we are eating up whats in the fridge and freezer. I ended up cancelling Schwans frozen food deliveries...we have had 4 packages lately where the seams on their packaging have just opened up on the bottom and the contents fell on the floor...they are having major problems with their company...the last delivery.....the driver had no idea what we had ordered...then filled the order...and made 2 mistakes.......3rd time that has happened in the last few months too....they need to work on their system..........and we need to use up what we have around here...so all is well. Time to stop spending money...and get creative with what is on hand.............

My hypoglycemia is under control with prevention instead of waiting for it to go low and then feeding it sugar...so the headaches and foggy vision are gone and now I'm working on eating for that while trying to contain the calories...so far...so good...Just keeping quantities lower....No bingeing issues at all...so as long as that lasts...I'm fine....today down 1.4 pounds...seriously need to take the time to dig out some old clothes that will now fit...no time for that today though.........will have to wear the baggies for a couple more days.

horn_of_plenty on 03/15/2018:
congrats on being productive and also on working to eat right!

good luck on your taxes :) i'm so glad i did mine so EARLY this year.!

bearcountrygg on 03/15/2018:
It's a BIG veggie day for sure.....Leftovers!!!! I don't think we have ever gotten our taxes done before March....even back when we got refunds!! But since retirement...we end up paying every year....oh well....like D always says...never regret paying income taxes...it means we have an income...LOL

login to leave comments

BearCountryGG - Wednesday Mar 14, 2018
(CEO of my life)
Weight: 218.0

Just stopped in for a moment...I have had time to read most days......

Very busy around here getting things set up for D's surgery next month...all equipment has arrived.

We ordered a exercycle today it's on the HSN website right now...for $200...it folds up and can be used upright and as a recumbant...so I think that will be good for both of us....

It's our third one...the sons each took our other ones home with them...that was one piece of exercise equipment I really do miss not having around, so I think this one will get lots of use.

He still has several appointments between now and the surgery...and I have a lot to learn about these dogs in the kennel...they think of me right now as the treat lady and they go nuts when they see me...somehow I have to impress on them that I will be their boss for awhile...I'm not sure they will be able to understand that........In the past...when we had ground level kennels I was able to handle them ( actually different dogs, not these)...but these are raised kennels which lets them basically stand over me....and I'm not as young as I used to be...I'm not afraid of them....( they like the treat lady)...but they are very powerful animals...(bear dogs have a lot of strength and guts)...so....it will be the 5 of them against the treat lady...LOL.

Just found out an old childhood friend fell on the ice this morning, hit her head and died...sadly her husband died last August............

D's sister is having surgery today.........

Brother in law starts his stem cell replacement therapy in a couple of weeks and will be in the hospital for at least a month in Detroit but his chemo and experimental treatments are done...so we are praying that the stem cell replacement works...because it is his last hope.

It's all a bit overwhelming....but I have to say that it's good to be able to write it out here.

I just noticed that I have not been writing down in my notebook what I have been eating since I stopped posting.....that's not good....WOW...how quickly I forgot that....NOT GOOD!

bearcountrygg on 03/15/2018:
Yes HOP...I'm feeling great...thank you...all went well with his sisters surgery...and she will be better now...she's a diabetic, amputee that was blind....I think they just gave her back a little sight...won't know for a couple of days but they are hopeful and that is all we can ask....she is a widow living alone and she has to see to stay at home...there are way too many people D and my ages that are in serious health trouble and dying....makes us think we need to get out butts in order and fast....! People in their 60's are old...but not THAT old!!!

login to leave comments

BearCountryGG - Saturday Mar 10, 2018
(CEO of my life)
Weight: 218.0

Up early as usual and feeling wonderful.

Scales down 2 pounds and I really feel it today...definately time to trash some clothes and dig out some new ones.

The mat for the Simply Fit board arrived so it's time to give that a try today I'm also incorporating some stretchy bands today that have been packed away for 3 years.....( need to test those for their safety)

Glucose is 95 today and perfect........protein/fat/carb meals are my answer and will be my way of life and it won't be hard to maintain.

As I mentioned a few days ago....I will be taking some time off from DD....Things have been busy and will get busier while D has his surgery preps and then recovery....

We have a lot of things to do around here beforehand plus the family member with cancer is having his stem cell treatment...at about the same time and I'm committed to them too............so I'm so happy to finally have a workable diet plan for my health.....and I'm happy to be feeling so well myself because the next few months will be about other family members......the activity will actually be good for me...and I'm looking forward to being busy and active....I will be back when I can.

Progress as of today: 37.4 lbs lost so far, only 73 lbs to go!

Horn_of_plenty on 03/10/2018:
I'm glad you are taking a break while feeling the best you can. Good luck to your hubby and also the other family member...

your foods look GREAT...wayyyy healthier than mine today! :)

Donkey on 03/10/2018:
So glad that you figured out a good food combo plan before you became busy. Now you can focus on the busy, because your food plan is on automatic. And nothing wrong with sandwiches!

Maria7 on 03/10/2018:
Congrats on your new lower number. Take good care of yourself while you are taking care of others.

login to leave comments

BearCountryGG - Friday Mar 09, 2018
(CEO of my life)
Weight: 220.2

We struggle...I know I do!

One thing I remember from the foster parenting days is that we can't take the genetics out of a person....and that enviornment only does so much...genetics...keep rearing their ugly heads..

Our childhoods play such a large part in our adult lives.......the genetics were already there and then add to that our first life experiences...and the result is a heady mass of influence that we carry through life with us.

Everything old is new again........there is nothing new under the sun.....D and I were discussing our enjoyment of the the old POPEYE cartoons from our childhood....and I realized...that popeye said it all.

" I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam....I'm Popeye the sailor man...toot...toot!"

Maybe just maybe we do what we do for reasons we can't control....and maybe we have trouble changing because it is so unnatural for us.

Maybe when we force ourselves to do something that is different "for our own good" we end up returning to our old ways again when the going gets tough because that is what we are programmed to do.

Maybe I need to honor what I am about...and just be me.

Maybe I need to follow my own instincts...now I know for a fact that I can keep my blood sugar stable all day long with bread, a protein and a fat....I know it's not popular for weight loss...which I really need to achieve....so I am in a weird place right now....the headaches and mood swings are totally gone...I'm full of energy and feel really good....apparently my low glucose has been really messing with me for years in ways that I didn't realize. I always was a carb person...and maybe that was because that is what was needed to keep my glucose stable.

Any person into dieting is going to tell me to dump the carbs and hit the veggies and I get that...but when I dump the bread/cereal/pasta/crackers/cookies/potatoes...my glucose drops and I feel crummy...24 hours a day.

So now I've proven to myself what I have to eat to keep the blood levels good...........now I need to figure out how to eat those daily and still lose weight...because my weight was up a little this morning.......looks like a balancing act that....I'm beginning to see why I have been so driven to carbs...I will figure this out...but I will say one thing...I will be keeping the glucose up because I feel great!!!

In the end...If I have to choose between good glucose and being fat...the glucose is going to win.

For the last 2 days the numbers are perfect...something that I haven't been able to achieve for years...it's been lower and lower and then sugar to bring it to a little higher place...but basically hardly ever in the normal range....

I remember DONKEY mentioning protein....and while I had never had success with that...I knew others had..........so I did some research...and DONKEY was right....but I had to add the grain and fat to make it work...and it was my miracle.....

Now I will have to find the balance between the 2.......so far today it's going well again......why didn't I figure this out years ago???????

Progress as of today: 35.2 lbs lost so far, only 75.2 lbs to go!

Maria7 on 03/09/2018:
I remember Popeye and his girlfriend. So cute! Too bad they don't have more of these kinds of innocent entertaining cartoons and videos these days instead of so many violent entertainments for the very young folks.

bearcountrygg on 03/09/2018:
I agree...we were innocent kids...and when it comes down to it...there were messages there for us that were not negative or bad for the most part. Even nursery rhymes were honest...they sounded evil...but they taught us things.....jack broke his crown ( head)....jack spratt and his wife ( he ate no fat she ate no lean), rock a bye baby falling out of the tree, they sound ominous...but they were simple lessons....

horn_of_plenty on 03/09/2018:
i have a thought for you, take it or leave it of course, but when you say "you wanting to just be you" i think you are making an excuse for not exactly knowing yet what works!? i do the same of course at times / many times - i am just saying that you have to promise yourself to stick with something ...for at least one week straight...harder said than done...

are you ok on lower blood sugar counts?...maybe your normal is slightly under, tho i can be quite wrong. same with me, i think my normal is under...at last for blood pressure.

bearcountrygg on 03/09/2018:
With lower blood sugar counts I have a headache and foggy vision...and while I lived with that for many years.....now I know that both of those are gone when the numbers are between 90 and 100. So I'm not okay with it anymore. I agree...I need to stick with one thing for at least a week...I'm on day 3 of high protein/carb/fat....and I'm not going to stop that because it works....now making it work for weight loss at the same time is something else.

horn_of_plenty on 03/09/2018:
so continue for 4 more days... :) good job lady....i always would get the symptoms too of the shakiness low blood sugar..

trishpiglet3 on 03/09/2018:
We are all so very different in what we need foodwise. If it takes some time to work out then it takes some time to work out. Good luck with sticking to it as horn_of_plenty also says.

And Yay Popeye! FAO Maria, in the UK in the 1970s we had some really sweet kids TV programmes with puppets, zero violence and lots of life lessons. :)

bearcountrygg on 03/10/2018:
I agree 100%...we are all different...and we all have to figure out what we really need...trying things is the only way to do that.

BearCountryGG - Thursday Mar 08, 2018
(CEO of my life)
Weight: 219.2

Very very snowy here...and super snow man type of snow........and we had 1 poor robin......poor little guy....he wil have a pretty difficult time finding worms right now...he hangs around our bird feeders but he doesn't eat the seeds...( robins don't)...

On another note...some scammer stole my phone number and is calling people with their scam and my number is showing up on peoples phones as a missed call.....and then they are calling me!!!! UGH!!!!! So now...I only answer calls from people I know....and have changed my voice mail message to an apology and an explanation..............what is wrong with people?????

Sticking to my 3 meal a day plan....max 1,500 cals Boring but it takes the food from my every thought....and that helps me.

Progress as of today: 36.2 lbs lost so far, only 74.2 lbs to go!

horn_of_plenty on 03/08/2018:
I'm telling you, sometimes too many choices isn't good...and when making something a habit or trying to take in control...it is better to plan :) if you don't plan, you plan to fail.

bearcountrygg on 03/08/2018:
For now I had to limit my choices....the repetition does make me less interested in eating...and that can be a good thing. I don't think we should be so rigid that we never have a treat....but we need to look at it as a treat...not as a daily gorge fest....at least you don't have much to lose....

trishpiglet3 on 03/08/2018:
Sometimes you can do a swap instead of the treat. Something still nice but healthier. Damage-limitation.

I don't understand the mentality of people who do scamming things. Is it greed? Do they get money from it?

bearcountrygg on 03/08/2018:
Yes...I can swap things as needed,,,,,just want to keep it simple so I don't think about it much.. The scammers....I have no idea how their minds work....I'm not sure what this one that stole my number is asking of people...no one has told me specifics...but...they are always out for money...but I'm not sure what this one is about...they don't profit from me personally...but they use my number to hide behind and scam people into sending them money........I have never understood the criminal mind...

horn_of_plenty on 03/08/2018:
yeah, i am going to stop with the peanut butter keebler crackers in the mornings soon...getting back to basics here too...cutting down the extra sugars soon. right now, just planning better :)

bearcountrygg on 03/08/2018:
For me...keeping the problem stuff out of the house is the answer...I'm not good at ignoring it...if it tempts me. Wish I had better self control with food.

bearcountrygg on 03/09/2018:
Robins like worms, and berries...and possibly insects ( not sure on that one)....but no seeds......LOL...go out and dig em up some worms...add some berries...and they will love you forever.

BearCountryGG - Wednesday Mar 07, 2018
(CEO of my life)
Weight: 219.2

Still feeling good and energetic...well...as energetic as an old lady can feel!

For some reason I am thinking that a breakfast of 2 cups coffee, my vitamin medley, a packet of instant oatmeal and a high protein shake or diet protein shake mix...is the absolute breakfast winner for me, it sticks with me until lunch, and it keeps me moving. I don't want to get into a rut though and there are other kinds of food around here...but so far...that s the WINNER!

Multi vitamin, extra c, zinc, turmeric, baby aspirin, omegas

BREAKFAST

coffee=0

1pkt oatmeal = 160

Slim Fast protein shake = 180

Okay....I have spent several hours putting together diet plans for both D and I

He now has a guidline from his doctor....he is diabetic , I am hypoglycemic .....so we have totally different needs...and for days now..I have been preparing 2 different meals for us....cruciferous veggies are good for him...they are terrible for me.......carbs are good for me...they are terrible for him....meat is good for both of us until someone shows some kidney issues and then they will be cut back. Fat is bad for his liver, but good for my glucose. We both have to have sugar available to equalize glucose...but we can't eat it randomly.......Dairy is an issue for me ( lactose intolerance) but good for him.

Cooking isn't what it used to be,..PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!!!!

So I have been preparing 2 different meals at the same time lately.

Now about mine............

I had been getting a bit bored with calorie counting

I went back over old ww paperwork and noticed that I lost most of it eating sandwiches...to keep the temptations at bay...and that fits in perfectly again now.

So...........

I made up a plan for myself that gives me options for each meal and that keep the calories in check..and covers all of the food groups...no counting...no weighing or measuring foods, and no looking up calories. It's simpler than I expected...but I knew it would be a better option.

and a simple dessert if desired such as 1 cookie, 1 pudding cup, fruit cup, etc

Dinners will be

a sandwich containing a protein and a fat

a soup of choice or a salad of choice

a fruit

This plan keeps me in a good place calorie wise, limits my sugars yet keeps my glucose up with the carb/protein/fat in all meals.

I will be able to use the protein and some veggies from D's meals......and then he will have some things I won't have and I will have some things he won't have......it will work out...we have been doing something very similar over the last few days and it's fine.

So I probably won't be listing my foods daily now on most days...it will basically be close to the same every day........and it helps me to think of food less myself.

I once had a ww leader who ate the same thing every day...with basically no variation....and it worked for her...she said the boredom of it made keeping her weight off, possible....her meals consisted of B. Cereal/milk.......L.Sandwich......D. salad and meat.........

At the time I didn't think that was a possibility for me.....but years later...it did click and I lost 55 pounds basically on sandwiches and granola bars......... but then drug reps started bringing meals into the medical office I worked in and it all came back with the sumptuous foods they delivered almost daily.

Well...I guess I've come full circle now...and I can see where it makes the most sence for D and I............this gives us the foods we like and need, helps our health, allows us to lose weight...and gives us a treat now and then...so far it's working...I'm down 3 pounds and that feels good...pants are getting loose again and I'm rolling up my shirt sleeves daily...so....we are happy!

Progress as of today: 36.2 lbs lost so far, only 74.2 lbs to go!

horn_of_plenty on 03/07/2018:
you put the shake in the oatmeal or separate? good ideas here on breakfast...good eats overall.

bearcountrygg on 03/07/2018:
Separate.....the slim fast shakes are in a bottle...I make 1 pkg flavored or plain oatmeal in a coffee cup with water from the Keurig. I know those shakes have bad stuff in them...but I'm at the point where I don't care...it works...and that's what I'm going for.....I avoided that stuff for years at a time in the past....but now I really just want to get it all sorted out....LOL

horn_of_plenty on 03/07/2018:
after i eat up or get sick of my peanut butter crackers which aren't satisfying, i need to rethink breakfast :)

bearcountrygg on 03/07/2018:
They are a bit high in cals...we have some here...D calls them his truck food..LOL They don't satisfy me...maybe its the salt...I want more.

horn_of_plenty on 03/07/2018:
yeah they satisfy me for like one hour! :) they are just fun food.

Up and feeling good....glucose was 86.......ok...but a touch on the lower side so I added orange juice to my breakfast....that should help. 13 hour over night fast......I'm loving it!!

3 meals a day and no snacks and protein/fat/carb heavy meals are the answer for me....The 12 to 13 hour fast overnight is a super big help.......

I am absolutely much better off if I do not eat every 3 hours or graze all day.....3 meals and no snacks has given me so much energy...plus it keeps me eating better meal type foods and no or less junk /snack type food......

I was tempted to snack last night, but didn't want to break any new habits...so I drank some water...and went to bed at 9:30..read a little and fell asleep. I'm actually sleeping better now too.......where I sometimes slept only 4 to 6 hours a night...I'm now sleeping 7 or more.....I think my body would rather I go to bed on an empty stomach....the water in the evening did get me up for 3 bathroom breaks...but I fell right back to sleep...so that was fine.

My hip is a lot better in fact I never noticed any pain this morning at all....I'm clearer minded and I've noticed my eyes are not getting tired in the evening...I had been getting very fuzzy sight about 8 in the evening...and was having problems reading. I'm thinking that less junk food eating is helping...or higher glucose levels may have something to do with it but I LOVE IT!

1,200 to 1,500 calories for day

multi vitamin, extra c, zinc, omegas, turmeric, baby aspirin

BREAKFAST

yogurt ( flip type containg peanuts) = 200

orange juice = 140

coffee = 0

-------------------------------------------------------

340

LUNCH

Toasted bagel with spray butter and peanut Butter = 470

4 mini beef sticks = 160

clif bar = 230

propel water = 0

DINNER

beef and whole wheat sandwich

veggie straws

fruit with chia seeds

Spring was coming......and then THIS!!!!

Progress as of today: 33.2 lbs lost so far, only 77.2 lbs to go!

horn_of_plenty on 03/06/2018:
i also enjoy a long fast from dinner till breakfast...i can usually do it on weekends when i can sleep in a bit :)...i also feel good letting my body rest and not just eating constantly. glad you are overall feeling better and soon the Spring weather should also help.

bearcountrygg on 03/06/2018:
yes...still waiting for spring...Supposedly the 12 or more hour fast lets fat get burned...but I bet you don't have much fat anymore.

horn_of_plenty on 03/06/2018:
my fat came back a hair...i am working on that now :)

but still i hear it's good to give your digestive system a rest....for the time fasting...i hear it's good for all you funny lady.

happy-1 on 03/06/2018:
My ultimate oatmeal combo is keeping me pretty steady energy-wise and yummy. I only feel like eating in the AM and late at night when it's not hot. My ancestors were polar bears I swear. It's barely March and I'm contemplating an ice bath tonight when I get home.

bearcountrygg on 03/07/2018:
I think oatmeal is a winner for me too....but I need a protein with it. No need for ice cold baths here...I'm into being warm...LOL